Fuse



Mch l5, 1932. A4 C;l STENMAYER 1,849,440

FUSE

Filed April 5, 1929 Patched' Mar. v15, 1932 ALWIN STEIN'MAYERYOF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGN- hlENTs, T0 LINE MATERIAL COMPANY, OF SOUTH rom'rIoN oF DELAWARE animacion mea apra s,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fuses and refers more particularly to that type known in the art as an expulsion fuse.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simplified means for connecting a fuse with the cover of a fuse box whereby its terminals are substantially loatingly mounted, to readily adjust themselves to the fixed contact clips within the fuse box.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a fuse having terminals, one of which is loosely connected with the body of the fuse, to permit relative movement therebetween. Y

Another object of this invention resides in theprovision of a fuse box-having a removable door to which the fuse proper is substantially ioatingly secured by its terminals and in a manner permitting-individual free adjustment of the terminals to their respecti-ve contact clips, to insure a good electrical connection therebetween.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts vsubstantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

' In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with parts v broken away and in section illustrating my improved fuse construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2'--2A and illustrating the mounting of the fuse terminals on thedoor;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken through Figure 1 on the plane ofthe line 3-3, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower MILWAUKEE, WISOONSIN, A COR- FUSE 1929. Serial No. 352,187.

end of the fuse removed from its supporting accompanying drawings, in which like nu-v merals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 represents a fuse box or housin preferably formed of porcelain or the li e, and whose open front is adapted to be closed by a cover 6 formed of suitable insulating material. The cover 6 is hingedly connected with the box 5, at its lower end, by pins 7 extended from its sides and received in hook sha d members 8 fixed in the adjacent portion o the Vfuse box in any suitable manner, the hook members 8 being so formed that the cover may be detached from the box when in its full open position. I Mounted within the box 5 are terminal members 9 and 10 which are secured in position b having their anchoring portions 11 receive within suitable cement filled recesses 12 formed in the back of the box, as is customary. rllhe terminal members 9 and 10 have sprin contact clips 13 and 14 respectively fixe thereto, to receive the fuse terminals 15 and 16 of a fuse 17 carried by the cover. Lead-,in conductors 18 and 19 respectively connected with the terminal members provide means for connecting the fuse as desired.

The body of the fuse 17 consists of a tube I of insulating material 20 having the terminal 15 fixed to its upper end and having its lower end loosely extended through an aperture 21 formed in the terminal 16. The terminal 15 has its outermost end threaded to receive a cap 22, which impinges the.

T-shaped head 23 of a fuse element 24 between it and the outer end of the terminal to electrically lconnect the fuse element with the terminal. The lower free end of the element 24 extendsthrough .the open lower end 1 of the tube 20 and is bent back, hair-pin fashion, along the outside thereof to be elecwhich a plug 27 is threaded to clamp the lower end of the fuse element in the bottom of the slot 26.

The terminals 15 and 16 are substantially floatingly mounted on the inner face of the cover 6, so that they may independently and freely adjust themselves to their respective contact clips 13 and 14. The substantially floating mountingr of the terminals comprises transversely projecting arms 28 extended from the lower end of extensions 29 and 30 of the terminals 15 and 16 respectively, which are slotted as at 31, to loosely receive securing screws 32 threaded in suitable anchor members 33 embedded in the cover 6.

The screws 32 are provided with washers 311, which are larger than the width of the slots 31 and are maintained in fixed spaced relation with the face of the cover by means of sleeves 35 confined between the washers x and the cover, the length of the sleeves being longer than the thickness of the laterally projecting arms 28 so that each terminal is permitted a limited degree of movement with respect to the cover.

The fact that the fuse tube 20 is not fixed to the lower terminal 16, but merely loosely passes through its aperture 21, readily accommodates for possible warping of the fuse tube 20 and permits the independent movement of the terminals to adjust themselves to their respective Contact clips. 4

The fact that the lower fuseterminal is not secured to the tube also eliminates an ob jectionable feature inherent to fuses of the character described heretofore in use. It is well known that in the past, it has been common practice to secure the lower fuse terminal to the tube by means of a set screw, knurling, or some other means.

These methods of connecting the terminal ture of the fuse under extreme loads, thetube was punctured at this mitted thearc to hold on, destroy the entire device.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with 'the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I provide an improved construction for fuses, in which the fuse itself is mounted from the cover of the box in a novel manner to permit its terminals to independently freely adjust themselves with their respective contact clips, and whereby the application of the fuse element is greatly facilitated, and the use of random lengths of fuse material permitted.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a device of the character described, a support, contact clips carried by the suppoint and perand completely port, a fuse having terminals adapted to be engaged with the contact clips, and means whereby the terminals ofthe fuse are freely movable in all directions to adjust themselves `to their respective contact clips.

2. A device of the character described comprising a housing, a cover for the housing, Contact clips within the housing, a fuse movably carried by the cover and having terminals 'engageable with the contact clips, and means substantially floatingly mounting one terminal whereby said terminal is freely movable relative to the other including rotational movement about the axis of the tube and to the cover to accommodate warping of the fuse. A

3. In a fuse construction, a mounting member,` a fuse tube, a terminal member fixed to the tube, a second terminal member having an aperture through which the fuse tube is loosely passed, and means connecting 'the terminal members with the mounting member whereby the fuse tube is permitted movement relative to the mounting member and the terminal members are permitted movement relative to each other.

1. A fuse including a tube, a terminal merr ber carried by the tube, a second termir .l member looseon the tube, and means mounting the terminal members whereby the tubo is supported by the mounting of the first men-- tioned terminal member and whereby the second terminal member is free to move with respect to the tube. Y.

5. In a fuse construction, an insulating tube, a terminal member, means supporting the tube, means supporting the terminal member independent of the tube, the support for the terminal member permitting movement of the same about the axis of the tube, a fuse element within the tube, and means for electrically connecting one end of said element with the terminal member.l

6. A fuse structure, comprising a tube, terminalsmounted on the tube, one of said terminals having an aperture in which the tube is freely received and whereby said terminal is free to move about the axis of the tube, and a fuse element electrically bridging the terminals.

7. A fuse structure, comprising a tube, terminals. and a fuse element electrically bridging the terminals, one of said terminals being freely movable in all directions with respect to the tube including rotational movement about the axis of the tube.

8. In a fuse construction, a supporting member, a tube, terminals for the tube, means mounting the terminals onthe supporting member, one of said terminals having means for maintaining it assembled with the tube but permitting unrestricted relative movement therebetween, and a fuse' element connecting the terminals.

9. In a fuse construction, a support, a fuse tube, a terminal fixed on the tube, a second terminal having an aperture in which the tube is loosely received, a fuse element connecting the terminals, and means mounting the terminals on the support whereby the fuse tubes supported by the first-mentioned terminal and is free to move with respect to the secondmentioned terminal.

10. In a fusel construction, a mounting member, a fuse tube, terminal members for the fuse tube one'of which has an aperture in which the fuse tube is loosely received, and l means connecting the terminal members with the mounting member whereby the fuse tube is free to move relative to the mounting member and the terminal members are free to move relative to each other.

11. A fuse structure comprising a tube, a terminal fixed to one end portion of the tube, a second terminal spaced from the first terminal and from the opposite end portion of the tube, said second terminal having an aperture through which the tube is loosely passed and whereby the second terminal is free to move in all directions with respect to the tube and consequently the {irst terminal, and a fuse element electrically bridging the terminals.

12. In a fuse construction, a mounting member, a fuse tube, a terminal member fixed to one end portion of the tube, means loosely connecting said terminal member with the mounting member whereby the tube and the terminal member are supported from the mounting member and permitted movement in all directions relative thereto, a. second terminal positioned intermediate the ends of the tube and having an aperture through which the tube is loosely passed, and means loosely connecting said second terminal with the mounting member whereby the same fis free to move with respect to the' mounting member andthe tube. y I

In testimony whereof vI have hereunto aixed my signature. l

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.-. 

